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"West Horndon is an area of growth due mainly to rising birth rates and there is a predicted need for expansion within the primary sector,” said headteacher Matt O’Grady.

The village of West Horndon (Image: Terryjoyce/Wiki)

“The forecast indicates a small but sustained demand for additional places in the area from 2019 onwards, and an additional half form of entry of primary school capacity is required to meet the demand in the West Horndon area.

“In response to this growth, Essex County Council are proposing to expand West Horndon Primary School from 105 permanent places (half a form of entry) to a 210 place (one form of entry) primary school."

St Francis Church in West Horndon

He added: “West Horndon Primary School is the only school in the area; it is rated by Ofsted as a good school and is regularly over subscribed.

“The school has taken more than its published numbers in the last three years to accommodate local children with no other primary school in the immediate area.

“An expansion at West Horndon Primary will provide a stable solution for the identified need and will enable more parents to gain a place for their child at a popular, high performing school.

“It is expected that building works to physically expand the school will include some internal remodelling and newly created space, and the design will be created in conjunction with the senior leadership team to ensure the needs of the school and its pupils are at the heart of any changes.

“Public consultations are being held for feedback on the expansion proposal and the planning proposal."

“It’s going to cause tremendous problems”

West Horndon's village hall

With West Horndon due to grow significantly in the next few years, some believe the expansion of the school will have a real impact on traffic.

“It’s going to cause tremendous problems at the moment,” said Councillor Dan McNicol, chairman of West Horndon Parish Council.

“The people that don’t live in the village are driving their vehicles down Thorndon Road and it is going to cause so many problems."

He added: “Thorndon Avenue is going to be a nightmare in the morning and the afternoons. It’s bad enough as it is now.